ACADEMICS

Education Specialist in Secondary Education

The Education Specialist in Secondary Education program (formerly certificate of advanced graduate studies) at Worcester State University offers advanced study in education with a disciplinary focus to teachers in grades 5-12, curriculum leaders, international students, and those interested in educational research—all of whom have a master’s degree in education, a cognate area, or a field related to their teaching license.

Our program offers you a wide range of disciplinary focus areas, including bilingual, multicultural, and English as a Second Language; biology; educational leadership; English; history; humanities; international and comparative education; mathematics; multi-literacies in content area, technological, and visual literacies; reading; Spanish; and STEM.

It grants you the flexibility to create your own personalized course of study that meets your unique interests and goals. What’s more, you’ll be able to advance your career at your own pace: You can complete the program either full- or part-time, and courses are offered in a range of formats, including in person, online, and hybrid (a mixture of both). You also will work closely with faculty, conducting original research on a topic of your choosing.

Graduates of our program go on to rewarding careers in educational research, curriculum leadership, and teaching. You may use the Education Specialist in Secondary Education to further your career advancement—and as a possible pathway to professional educator licensure through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

In addition to the general admission requirements, candidates for the Education Specialist in Secondary Education program will be required to meet the competencies established by the graduate program for all candidates seeking a Education Specialist at Worcester State. In addition, students will be required to demonstrate evidence of an earned Master of Education or a master’s degree in related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Program of Study

This program consists of a minimum of ten (10) courses for a minimum of thirty (30) graduate credits, which are selected with the approval of the program coordinator. There is one course in the philosophical, sociological, or cultural foundations of education; two or three courses in secondary education areas such as curriculum, assessment, leadership and/or instruction; four or five courses in a disciplinary focus such as Math, History, Biology, English, Spanish, Reading, or Language and Culture; one course in research methods; and a three to six credit research project. At the conclusion of the program, students will select a portfolio or comprehensive exam option with the approval of the program coordinator.